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I've always thought Paul Goodman's book title "Like a conquered province" summed up America's attitude toward governing itself.

I generally agree with almost every you write, but why is it "way over the top" to place some of the responsibility for Darrion Albert's death on those who launched fairly drastic reform plans? Obviously, there is not a direct line of causality (Duncan was not swinging a railroad tie), but it is certainly plausible (even likely) that closing schools, forcing students to travel out of their neighborhoods, and firing knowledgable and experienced staff may have further destabilized an already precarious set of conditions. Do you think CPS actually put much thought into minimizing the potentially dangerous consequences of its actions? Were safeguards considered and put in place? It's highly doubtful. I have certainly not seen any policy documents or plans to prove that they did. Seeing how Duncan has been thoughtlessly pushing an ideological agenda and policies that have no research base whatsover at the national level, it is hardly credible that his actions as CPS CEO were any more prudent.

Tom--I haven't read Goodman but will put it on my list.

ppr--I just think responsibility for the Albert death is a pretty heavy charge to lay on CPS, especially in light of the slender evidence at hand. I honestly don't know whether they put serious thought into the consequences of their reform plans, and I'm loath to speculate what might have happened had they school closings and reconstitutions never occurred. In a situation as precarious as the situation in South Chicago, there could have been many different triggers for violence.

As I hope my post makes clear, however, I agree that community dynamics can make or break school turnaround efforts, and ham-fisted efforts can inflame community passions or resentments and actually set things back. The tendency of some people in the reform community to suggest that schools alone can always carry the full weight of community transformation through academic reforms just doesn't hold up, and Huberman seems to acknowledge as much through his actions.

His program seems promising, because it represents an attempt to understand what's going on in communities and address community needs. I hope the next step is to link schools with community providers and leaders who help banish the violence.

The school turnaround story we all like to hear often begins with a dramatic change in school culture. Students begin to flourish in a safe and orderly environment. School/community connections can make those changes possible--as can veteran teachers who know their students and communities, but who become inspired by a new vision for what their school can achieve.

This death isn't about schools or school districts. It's about how our young men are raised in a violent culture. When I got into a few fights as a young boy, knives and guns and 2x4's never came into my mind. What are the parents (or parent) not doing for these students? Parents must give these boys hope for the future that life can be good when you follow society's rules and apply yourself. Living life with a chip on your shoulder will get you nowhere. casino online

James,

While I agree with you that all sorts of people share the blame for the young man's death, I'm also not sure that parents alone can give those children hope. In many of those communities, almost no jobs are available, children have few conventionally successful role models, and they see few clear paths out of the lives they and their families lead.

Parents certainly can do a lot to lead youth out of their defeatism, but they can have a steep, steep hill to climb.